August 22, 2012

Mining the Audio Motherlode, Volume 179

If you enjoy the survey of sounds covered in these weekly Motherlodes, you should check out Give the Drummer Radio, a 24-hour webstream I created for WFMU in the summer of 2010. Initially, the stream was intended as a platform for continuing to broadcast my radio show after a move to Pittsburgh mandated that it come off WFMU's main broadcast schedule. After establishing my show on the stream, it occurred to me that I could use the stream as a means for presenting other great radio shows as well, and now the thing serves up a half dozen additional genius music obsessives on a weekly basis.

In its default mode—listen anytime here or via mobile device (info here)—Give the Drummer Radio plays a continuous flow of adventurous, unusual and lovely sounds such as you find here in Mining the Audio Motherlode. The schedule for hosted programs on the stream is here. You can hear all of the shows live on the stream, or archived for listening when its convenient. For updates and alerts, follow the stream on Twitter, like it on Facebook or email (send a request here).

Phat"...great title music; multi-faceted like a miniature suite and dramatic throughout, the action packed 'Koi Kahe Main Khanjar Hoon,' the funky, druggy and decidedly Burmanesque 'Yeh Nasha Jaan Meri Hai,' and finally the fabulous effect filled and fun sounding 'Rajni Hai Mera Naam.' I'm no expert on Bollywood movies, but I doubt there are that many song & dance numbers featuring disembodied singing heads. I approve." (Description by PC, at Music from the Third Floor)

Favela Chic"Esse Mundo E Meu is black and white movie picture directed by Sergio Ricardo that follows two men living in a Rio de Janeiro slum: a black shoe-shiner and a white mill worker. I never saw this movie and perhaps it is not available on DVD or VHS, but the soundtrack is nice with Sergio Ricardo compositions and Lindolfo Gaya arrangements. Personnel listing brings Ed Maciel, Wilson das Neves, among others." (Description by zecalouro from the old Loronix blog)

Rock the Bush"Listen for example to the opening track by the group SASA Tshokwe ("Sauvons l'Authenticité Suivant l'Art Tshokwe"). The guitarist, a certain Mutshi, clearly is trying to do some Franco-like chords. Despite the use of what may be described as 'primitive' instruments (two cassette boxes, a bottle, a cooking pot) I certainly would not call the music primitive. Inventive, yes. Original, certainly. Even authentic and unique. The CD contains a fantastic and paradigm shifting collection of musical marvels. Songs that will move and will get even the most reluctant misanthrope moving. Who ever thought that it would be possible to dance to what sounds like a (mechanical) typewriter (track 3) or to the sound of someone blowing through a plastic tube into an oil drum (track 7)?" (Description by Stefan at Worldservice)

L.A. Confidential"Blues Boy Rawlins is a mystery to me and there is next to nothing to be found on the internet. The LP was released in 1978 on Shakey Jakes' Good Time label. Shakey backs on harmonica on what is very raw and intense acoustic set. A shame he never recorded anything else as far as I know." (Description by Xyros, at Don't Ask Me...)

[For a full-color snap of the elusive Mr. Rawlins, scroll down to the fourth photo here.]

Nice Duck"Mammola Sandon was born in Vicenza, in the Veneto. Her musical career began in 1944 when she debuted in a Red Cross charity show. Her stage name 'Sandon's' came by chance — it was an oversight by the illustrator who prepared her first record cover. Her first big break as a professional vocalist came in 1947, when she sang in the Hot Club of France with two jazz legends: guitarist Django Reinhardt, and violinist Stephane Grappelly." (Wikipedia)